Shangguan Yao's eyes snapped open as he looked at Yan Ling.
Princess Yan Ling's beautiful eyes were shimmering with tears.
For a woman, to be brought into the palace, and yet be the head of the four consorts, and to not receive the Emperor's favor, what a heavy blow this must be.
Moreover, Yan Ling was a princess of a nation. How could she endure the mockery of the women in the palace? Shangguan Yao knew all of this, which was why he allowed Yan Ling to run wild in the palace.
For instance, she had disciplined Consort Xian, Ye Yuyun, and had also beaten Ye Suxue's maidservant. He had turned a blind eye to these actions.
If it were anyone else, they would have long since been punished. But Yan Ling was not punished, firstly because Yan Ling was shrewd and always put on a pitiful appearance when facing him, and secondly, because he felt indebted to her.
But was it going to be like this forever? Resentment could not be hidden in the depths of Shangguan Yao's eyes, yet he was powerless. Yan Ling, such a beautiful woman, if her body had not met with an accident, how could he have neglected such a beauty?
"Get up."
Shangguan Yao waved his hand, and Yan Ling stood up. Her tear-streaked face, with its sorrowful expression, was exceptionally pitiful. She spoke indignantly.
"Why does Your Majesty not enter Qianlan Palace? It causes me to be laughed at by my sisters."
This was also the reason why she had disciplined Consort Xian and beaten the maidservant of Concubine Zhaoyuan.
It was because the servants in their palaces dared to laugh at her. Even if the Emperor did not enter Qianlan Palace, she felt she was nobler than those people.
She was a princess of the Northern Dynasty, the apple of her father and mother's eye. How could she endure the anger of these people?
"Yan Ling, I have been very busy these past two days."
Shangguan Yao's face was covered with a layer of gloom, not directed at Yan Ling, but a sense of powerlessness and envy.
If he had known who had administered this thing to him, he would have torn that person apart limb by limb and annihilated his nine generations of kin.
"Your Majesty."
"Enough," Shangguan Yao commanded. Seeing that Yan Ling's tears were about to fall, he sighed slightly and rubbed his forehead.
Marrying this princess was a mistake. Because the Crown Prince of the North, Yan Yu, was still within the imperial post house, and if he heard that his sister had been harmed, he might clash with him. Otherwise, he would have long since disciplined this ungrateful princess.
Which woman would openly clamor like her, asking the Emperor to visit her chambers? Was she so unable to endure loneliness?
In this vast harem, many had not yet received his favor, and no one acted like her.
"Guards, escort Noble Consort back to Qianlan Palace."
Shangguan Yao's face was grim as he roared towards the outside. Yan Ling stood frozen, speechless with anger.
She was a beautiful embryo in the Northern Dynasty. Why, upon arriving in the Southern Dynasty, did this Emperor not favor her? If he did not favor her, why did he marry her in the first place?
Did marrying her into the palace mean she was just to be a decoration? Shangguan Yao, Shangguan Yao, you had better not force me.
A fierce light flashed in Yan Ling's eyes. Although she did not want to provoke the Emperor, she also knew that she was a princess of the Northern Dynasty. Even if she did something wrong, the Emperor could not execute her, because it concerned the relationship between the two countries.
Little Pavilion rushed in and respectfully invited Noble Consort Yan out.
Yan Ling threw her hand aside and turned to leave. Behind her, Shangguan Yao, seated on the dragon throne, had a most unpleasant expression. His hands were clenched tightly, and he forcefully pounded the imperial desk, sending the stationery and inkstone scattering to the ground.
The eunuchs and maids outside the study dared not make a sound, wondering how Noble Consort Yan had angered the Emperor.
Shangguan Yao panted heavily, thinking about his hidden ailment. Was it truly incurable?
Although he had been searching for Feng Guan, this person had disappeared.
He had originally intended to issue an imperial decree for Yun Mo to hand this person over. But Feng Guan was merely a distant relative of Yun Mo. If he issued such a decree, what would the world say? How would others think of him?
Torn between two difficult choices, the people he sent out had not yet found that person. He seemed to have truly vanished.
Never mind, there were still important matters to attend to. Shangguan Yao suddenly regained his senses and spoke coldly into the shadows, "Tomorrow."
"Yes, my lord."
As dark guards, they were hidden in the shadows, emitting no aura. These guards, having consumed a certain medicine, had their inner strength elevated to the extreme. When lurking by his side, they could not be sensed at all.
However, the medicine they consumed could deplete their lifespan. Most people could only live to around thirty years of age.
"Go and do it immediately."
"Yes," Ming Ri received the order, his expressionless face flashing away into obscurity.
A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Shangguan Yao's eyes, cold and cruel. He was the Emperor. For the Prime Minister and the Minister of Personnel to try and coerce an Emperor into changing his strategy was absolutely impossible.
The night was as dark as ink, with no moon and no stars.
Not even a whisper of wind stirred the treetops. The lanterns on the streets cast a dim light, illuminating the swaying branches. Mottled shadows fell upon the road, and a thin mist coiled in the air.
A carriage approached, traversing the quiet and deserted street, its hooves making a clattering sound that instilled a sense of unease and an almost unbearable dread.
Seated within the carriage was Sima Qingyun, the Prime Minister of the Eastern Qin Kingdom.
Prime Minister Sima Qingyun was upright and dared to speak his mind directly, a figure that gave the Emperor a headache. He had a good relationship with Prince Regent Yun Mo.
The Emperor's proposal from the morning court today had been rejected by them. The Emperor was planning to assess the officials in the court.
While this was a good thing in itself, as Prime Minister, Sima Qingyun knew the Emperor's intentions.
He had already dealt with Yun Mo, and now, he would likely move on to others. Therefore, he and a group of officials had firmly disagreed with the Emperor's actions.
After the court session, they had deliberated on a counter-strategy at the Grand Scholar's residence and did not return home until dark.
Looking at the sky, black as ink, with subtle movements within it.
Sima Qingyun felt uneasy, but his intuition told him that the Emperor would not resort to such base and shameless tactics, especially since among the high officials who disagreed with his assessment proposal today was his own maternal uncle.
Surely he wouldn't lay hands on his own maternal uncle.
However, it was clear that Sima Qingyun had underestimated Shangguan Yao's cunning. A storm of blood and violence was waiting for him.
The carriage galloped towards the Prime Minister's residence. But after turning two corners, the coachman abruptly pulled the reins, halting the carriage. The guards in front of the carriage shouted, "Who goes there?"
The night was very dark, but Sima Qingyun could still see clearly in the light of the lanterns on both sides of the carriage. Ahead stood twenty to thirty people arrayed in a line, all clad in black night-walking attire. The eyes of each person glittered with wolf-like bloodlust.
A thick killing intent permeated the entire night...
Inside the carriage, Sima Qingyun's face turned ashen. He was a mere civil official, without the strength to even truss a chicken. Unlike the military generals, even though he tried his best to remain calm, he could not stop his body from trembling slightly.
He looked coldly at the people opposite him, wondering who had sent them.
After a conflict with the Emperor during the day, an attack occurred at night. This made Sima Qingyun tremble with fear. Had the Emperor become like this? Would he execute people because court officials disagreed with him?
What a bloody method this was, a betrayal of the late Emperor's praise.